Our VIP A - list Speakers
Prepare for an exclusive deep dive with the VIP architects of cinema's visual landscape. Our esteemed panel features seasoned experts with verifiable track records on blockbuster projects in both Hollywood and the dynamic Arab market world. The Arab filmmaking scene is currently experiencing a renaissance of innovation, backed by massive strategic investment and a generation of inspiring new minds who are pushing technical and creative boundaries. They’re not just sharing stories—they're unveiling the cutting-edge VFX techniques, AI applications, strategic filmmaking insights, and career-defining trade secrets that drove their projects to global success and are shaping the future of visual storytelling. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn directly from the legends who are forging the next era of global cinema.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Cory Jamieson
Founder and CEO of BARNSTORM VFX
Cory Jamieson is an accomplished CEO, Executive Producer, and Emmy-Nominated VFX Supervisor, leveraging over a decade of experience shaping the visual effects landscape.
As a Co-Founder of Barnstorm VFX, he has helped build a global visual effects brand that delivers high-quality work across the spectrum of projects, from streaming and TV to high-end feature films.
Under Cory’s leadership, Barnstorm has contributed to some of Hollywood’s biggest and most acclaimed productions. Their extensive portfolio of major blockbusters features titles like Deadpool & Wolverine, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Captain America: Brave New World, Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thor: Love and Thunder, as well as hit series like One Piece and the Emmy & VES nominated Ted Lasso.
A testament to their exceptional standards, Barnstorm holds multiple Emmy and VES nominations across several projects. Cory's leadership emphasizes innovation and collaboration, fostering a creative environment that continually pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling. His commitment to excellence and passion for the entertainment industry position him as a notable figure in the field, dedicated to staying ahead of trends and securing Barnstorm’s continued success.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Philipp Wolf
Film Producer - Co Founder and CEO of SWYVL
Philipp Wolf (He/Him), a German serial entrepreneur and Producer based in Montreal, leads swyvl, a company out to empower individuals to understand and embrace neurodiversity through immersive experiences.
With extensive experience in visual effects producing, Wolf has made significant contributions to blockbusters such as ‘Dune: Part One’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell’.
His expertise extends from international co-productions and IP development to emerging technologies, which has led him to spearhead initiatives in virtual production and immersive experiences. He serves on the Visual Effects Society Board of Directors and within the Production Innovation Taskforce of producers Guild of America
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Amir Eleswy
DFX Supervisor at DNEG
Amir Wahid Eleswy is a seasoned film visual effects professional with over 20 years of experience specializing in high-end cinematic production and digital imagery.
Throughout his international career, Amir has contributed to and supervised work at some of the industry’s most prestigious studios, including DNEG, Eyeline Studios, MPC, Method Studios, and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
His filmography includes contributions to major Hollywood blockbusters such as Black Adam, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Godzilla vs. Kong, Justice League, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Men in Black: International, among others.
Amir is recognized for translating complex creative visions into compelling on-screen imagery through advanced VFX workflows, innovative problem-solving, and the strategic application of cutting-edge technology. His expertise bridges artistic sensibility with technical leadership, consistently delivering high-caliber results for large-scale cinematic productions.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Vero Lauzon
With over 17 years of experience in high-end VFX and 3D production, Vero is a senior production leader who has delivered more than 35 major film and series titles since 2012, including large-scale visual effects work on Ghost in the Shell, X‑Men: Apocalypse, X‑Men: Dark Phoenix, Top Gun Maverick, and the series Wednesday.
She has held senior roles including Head of Production and Senior VFX Producer for MPC (Motion Picture Company) and Eyeline Studios on both client and vendor sides, leading multi-vendor productions at scale for Netflix.
She has overseen projects across budgets from $1M to $75M while managing large cross-functional teams and multiple shows simultaneously while driving schedule, cost control, quality, and delivery.
Known for building robust production workflows and high-performance teams, she specializes in production strategy, risk management, and execution excellence in demanding environments.
Senior VFX Producer Eyeline Studios - Netflix
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Tamer Mortada
Tamer Mortada is a visionary Egyptian producer, media entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Aroma Studios, one of the Middle East's premier visual effects (VFX), post-production, and content creation companies.
Mortada founded Aroma in the early 2000s, initially establishing it as a pioneering post-production and design solutions house. Under his strategic leadership, the company quickly earned a stellar reputation for delivering Hollywood-grade visual effects and cutting-edge audio-visual identities for major television channels—garnering over 15 international awards along the way.
Recognizing the evolving demands of the regional entertainment industry, Mortada successfully expanded Aroma’s horizons into high-end content production. Today, the studio is a multi-regional powerhouse with offices across Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, employing hundreds of artists and industry professionals. Under his guidance as Chairman and Executive Producer, Aroma Studios continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and media technology, producing highly acclaimed TV series, films, and massive multimedia exhibitionsAcross her career.
Founder, Chairman, Executive Producer
AROMA STUDIOS
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Joseph Bell
Joseph Bell leads the worldwide Visual Computing specialists at Amazon Web Services, architecting next-generation cloud solutions that are redefining what's possible across VFX, animation, video games, and content creation. At the intersection of creative storytelling and cloud innovation, Joseph works with the world's leading studios and creators to push the boundaries of AI-driven production, real-time rendering, and globally distributed creative workflows.
Before joining AWS, Joseph built and led award-winning teams at some of the most iconic names in visual effects and animation — including Industrial Light & Magic / Lucasfilm, FuseFX, and The Mill / Technicolor — spanning feature films, television, and advertising. With over 70 film and television credits and two Emmy nominations for visual effects, he brings a rare blend of deep creative expertise and technical vision to the stage.
Joseph holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts — a foundation that fuels his passion for bridging the art of storytelling with the science of the cloud.
Senior Manager, Visual Computing
at AWS
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Christine Resch
Senior Strategic Development Manager Video EMEA at Adobe
Christine Resch joined Adobe as Strategic Development Manager for Video, where she focuses on strengthening relationships with creatives, enterprise customers and partners. She focuses on real-world workflows, supports adoption, and channels feedback directly to product management to keep a continuous loop between users and Adobe’s pro video team.
Before joining Adobe in 2025, she was a VFX Executive at Netflix for over five years, overseeing visual effects for all films and series from the DACH region, including Kleo, The Empress, and How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast).
With a degree in Film Production and Media Business from the University of Television and Film Munich and more than a decade of experience in film and television, Christine previously worked as a VFX Producer at Rise FX and Trixter in Munich and Berlin, with additional on-set experience in Atlanta, GA. She is Co-Chair of the German chapter and member of the Global board of Directors of the Visual Effects Society (VES) and is engaged in efforts to strengthen connections across the industry and to support female talent in VFX, virtual production, and animation.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
John Canning
Director of Strategic partnership Media & Entertainment at AMD
The Director of Developer Relations–Creators at AMD, is focused on enabling the creative ISV ecosystem.
He has a broad history in the interactive and immersive media space: from building core foundational technologies to middleware solutions to content creation. A frequent speaker and lecturer who has worked on projects worldwide–for Microsoft, Disney, NBC, Digital Domain, AMD, and startups.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Johannes Oehmen
Founder & Cloud Solutions Architect
Oehmen Digital Studio
Johannes Oehmen is the founder of Oehmen Digital Studio and an industry expert in cloud rendering and pipeline infrastructure for studios across VFX, animation, archviz, commercial, and product visualization.
Oehmen Digital Studio is an AWS partner, one of few worldwide specialized in rendering and visual compute, and Johannes is a recognized independent voice on AWS Deadline Cloud, from cost optimization and fleet configuration to migration from legacy render managers.
He has helped design integrations like AYON ↔ AWS Deadline Cloud, connecting open-source pipeline tooling to managed cloud rendering, and advises studios on finding the best and right toolset for how they actually work, from virtual workstations to pipeline. He shares what he learns openly and regularly through writing, webinars, and talks at industry events including FMX and the AYON Summit. His approach is built on honest, data-driven advice and a simple belief: technology should work for artists, so the people behind the pixels stay at the centre.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Ahmed Badawi
Managing Director of
Egypt Film Commission
Mr. Ahmed Badawi is the Managing Director of EFC, leading efforts to position Egypt as a top filming destination. With extensive experience in the film industry, he has streamlined processes and fostered collaborations that elevate Egypt’s profile in global cinema
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Bavi Yassin
Chairwoman of Kurdistan Film Commission
Bavi Yassin
A Kurdish-Belgian film professional, Bavi Yassin holds an MA with distinction from Brussels’ Royal Institute (RITCS). She served as Film Affairs Consultant to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where she helped shape national film industry policy. She is the President and Chairperson of the Creative Kurdistan Institute – Kurdistan Film Commission, the first female-led film commission in the MENA region. During the Cannes Film Festival, she launched the Kurdistan Film Fund, the country’s first national film fund.